Police nab DENR man for 'carolling'

There is a common term for extortion by lawmen and, yes, mediamen soliciting gifts for Christmas. It can also apply to extortion by lawmen of intended victims.

And that exactly what happened in Bacolod when an employee of the Provincial and Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) was entrapped on Monday for alleged extortion at the 888 Chinatown Square.

The entrapped PENRO employee was identified as Iver Estanol, 49, of Barangay Broreco, Bacolod.

Chief Inspector Leonardo Angcon, of the Police Intelligence and Investigation Branch, led the group that grabbed from Jun Estanol P500 in marked money – three P100 bills and one P200.

PO3 Junji Liba said it was a joint operation of the Bacolod City Police Intelligence and Investigation Branch with the cooperation of the units under Chief Inspector Angcon.

The suspect allegedly victimized five persons of the Chinatown Square of sums of money to fast-track the release of documents at the DENR. The victims reportedly shelled out from P60,000 to P300,000 to the PENRO employee. But it was not clear what the alleged violation of DENR laws and guidelines that was used to victimize them.

Negros Occidental awardee for excellence in governance

Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco and some local officers were due to receive an award from the DILG at the Sarabia Manor Hotel at 2 p.m. yesterday.

Zayco, however, designated his executive staffers Jonathan Lobaton and Gerardo Tupas to represent him at the awarding rites. Also present were board member Manuel Frederick Ko.

The province won as the first regional awardee, outshining five other provinces of Western Visayas.

The award aims to give recognition to local government units that showed good performance in local governance, including the successful implementation of projects, programs and the delivery of basic and social services to their constituents.

As a result, Zayco recommended to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan an additional P5,000 cash bonus for the provincial employees. This, Zayco explained, was the result of the province bagging the award for excellence in local governance.

Nabbed for killing of Indian

If there is anything that can be said, it is that the holdup, abduction and killing of Indians are often “unsolved.” This is due largely to the reluctance of the migrants, who are often engaged in lending, to file complaints against those victimizing them.

However, in the particular case of 22-year-old Jasver Singh, of Punjab, India, who resided temporarily in Villa Angela, Bacolod City, his killing was swiftly solved.

Police arrested two suspects, as one of them returned to recover his wallet at the crime scene.

This was two hours after the body of Singh was found on Monday in Purok Kawayanan, Barangay Busay, Bago City. Singh had 23 stab wounds.

The two suspects were identified as Joniel Valindez, 22, a collector of Singh, and his companion Jayvee Empasse.

Police seized from the two an XRM Honda motorcycle, a Nokia 1200 cell phone, a homemade shotgun (sumpak) and P700 in cash.

Police initially said the victim allegedly scolded Valindez several times for his supposed low collection of debts from lenders.

Apparently riled by the reported scoldings, Valindez and Empasse planned to kill Singh when the Indian national, accompanied by Empasse, went to Bago City on Monday.

Valindez reportedly followed up Empasse by stabbing Singh until the latter died. Empassee admitted having stabbed Singh the first three times. They reportedly threw the fatal knife into the Sum-ag River in Bacolod City.

Police are readying robbery with homicide charges against the two who are now detained in the Bago City jail. Valindez faces an additional complaint for illegal possession of firearms for his homemade shotgun.

For Singh, there would be no Christmas celebration. And for the two suspects, it’s a stay in jail and possibly longer, should they be found guilty of the crime.

And speaking of Bago City, the first-ever musical fireworks display will be held in the city on Jan. 1, New Year’s Day, at 7 p.m. This will be held at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center.

The musical fireworks show was made possible by a retired international lawyer from Luxembourg, Raymond Stoffel, who is married to a Bago resident.

The “Lights of Bago,” as the fireworks display is dubbed, will be accompanied by the music of three musical icons – classical soprano Sarah Brightman, composer George Frederic Handel, and German hard rock band Elay.